Tag: Warri

Following the renewed crisis’s between Iteskiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities in Warri, former Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade (Chief) Ovuozourie Samuel Macaulay, the Okiroro of Isoko Nation, has called for calm.

Macaulay in his statement which was made available to newsmen on Sunday, urging all ethnic groups involved to shewed their swords.

He recounted the harrowing memories of the past Warri crisis, noting that, it not only devastated the Rich Oil City but also severely disrupted oil production and inflicted deep economic wounds on the Area.

In his words; “The scars from those tragic days are still fresh in our minds. We must do everything within our power to ensure that we do not return to that dark chapter in our history.

“As a matter of urgency, I am passionately appealing to leaders of all ethnic nationalities and non-indigenous communities residing in Warri to caution their followers against making inflammatory statements or engaging in actions likely to undermine the fragile peace in the city most especially now that all industries are returning back to the City.

“I also called on the government to sustain its impartial approach in promoting peace and maintaining security across the city, because that communal harmony that has existed over the years after the crisis is critical to the socio-economic development of Warri and its surroundings.” the statement added.

AIG Garba Salma-Dogo, in charge of Zone Five, has met with stakeholders from Warri and environs, as part of efforts to address the crisis over the INEC ward delineation exercise in the area.

The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO) for the zone comprising Edo and Delta, SP Tijani Momoh, said this in a statement on Friday.

Salma-Dogo explained that the meeting was conveyed at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

He also said that the meeting was conveyed as parts of effort to enhance peace, safety and security in Warri and environs in particular and Delta at large.

He stressed the need for stakeholders to control their youths, and refrain them from making inciting and inflammatory statements, especially on the social media.

He also warned against name-calling and social media protest, saying it will not be tolerated henceforth. According to him, anyone caught will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

He also warned that no ethnic group should refer to another ethnic group as “customary tenants”, adding that any further breakdown of law and order would not be tolerated.

The AIG noted that there was no difference between the Ijaws, Itsekiris and Urhobos and warned all to avoid any issues that would cause a repeat of the 2003/2004 crisis.

Earlier the Commissioner of Police Delta State, Olufemi Abaniwonda, explained that the delineation exercise carried out by INEC in Warri, had brought about problems among the three ethnic groups in the area.

Abaniwonda said he was therefore seeking the intervention of the AIG to help forestall further escalation and break down of law and order.

Other speakers include representatives of Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Isaba Kingdom, Agbarha Warri Kingdom, Gbaramatu kingdom, and the three local government chairmen.

All speakers sued for peace, saying that they do not want a crisis in the area.

They also noted that the delineation exercise had not been finalised, and that INEC had asked all aggrieved parties to study the draft and bring up their complaints, observations and contributions.

They unanimously agreed to work for the peace and security of Warri kingdom, and pledged to call their youths to order.

Present at the meeting also were the Area Commander Warri, the Local Government Chairmen of Warri South West, Warri North and Warri South, as well as the spokesperson and representative of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Others were the representative from the Palace of the Olu of Warri, the Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh among other highly placed figures.

The Warri South-West Local Government Area has officially launched the 2025 Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) distribution campaign, with the Executive Chairman, Hon. Sylvester Oromoni, spearheading the initiative as the newly appointed Net Advocate for the LGA.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Wednesday morning, Hon. Oromoni expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and its development partners for selecting him to lead the campaign in Warri South-West. He pledged to work collaboratively with stakeholders to reduce malaria-related deaths, particularly among children.

He called on residents to cooperate with the distribution exercise by staying at home during scheduled visits, providing accurate information, collecting their free nets, and using them consistently.

“The government and its partners have fulfilled their responsibility by making these nets available at no cost. It is now up to the people of Warri South-West to play their part in creating a malaria-free community,” Oromoni stated.

During the event, the chairman also demonstrated the proper way to hang and use an insecticide-treated net, urging residents to replicate the process in their homes to protect themselves from mosquito bites and reduce the incidence of malaria.

Providing an update on the progress of the campaign, Mr. Mofe Oteri, Technical Assistant to the Delta State Ministry of Health, disclosed that 282 communities within the LGA have been mobilized, reaching 45,839 households. A total of 127,333 ITNs have been distributed across 64 designated distribution points, with 592 trained personnel, including 20 ward supervisors, deployed across the 10 wards of the local government.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary and Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Emiko Ofuyaekpone, highlighted the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets in preventing malaria. He commended Hon. Oromoni for his sustained support for healthcare initiatives in the area.

Residents are encouraged to cooperate with the distribution teams and take full advantage of the opportunity to protect their families against malaria.

Leaders of Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri, Delta State , on Wednesday, jointly called on the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) as well as the office of the National Security Adviser, to ensure transparent investigation into the arrest of persons, including a serving British Army Officer for illegally bringing in arms to instigate unrest in the Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State.

Addressing a joint press conference in Warri, the leaders alleged that the attempt to smuggle weapons was part of a plot to disrupt the Supreme Court-mandated process of redrawing electoral wards and polling units.

The press statement, read by Olorogun Victor Okumagba and supported by Hon. Denbo-Denbofa Oweikpodor, was signed by prominent ethnic leaders, including Comrade Sheriff Mulade, Hon. (Chief) Arthur Akpodubakaye, Joel Bisina, Comrade Emmanuel Igetei (Urhobo), Chief John Eranvor, Hon. Mark Ikpuri, and Chief Westham Adehor.

They pointed out that a traditional ruler from Warri Federal Constituency and his close aides are allegedly involved in this arms conspiracy, and that these individuals have yet to deny their involvement despite several days passing.

The leaders maintained that the Ijaw and Urhobo communities in Warri are primary targets of those behind the arms stockpiling, which they view as an attempt to destabilize Warri.

They claimed  that the plot to smuggle arms into Warri was a move to truncate the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units.

“We therefore, commend the proactive efforts of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) and sister security forces that carried out the covet operations leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

“The Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri call for detailed investigation and prosecution of the those behind this act of terrorism, irrespective of the position and class of the persons involved. We demand that, under no circumstances should this matter be swept under the carpet considering its grave implications on regional and national security.

“The office of the National Security Adviser is called upon to be transparent in the investigation and prosecution of the culprits. We demand that the Nigerian people, especially the people and residents of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State deserve to have an official reaction from the government of Nigeria on the issue of illegal stockpiling of arms to instigate crisis in Warri.

The leaders who were drawn from Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West Local Government Areas of the state, stated that the press conference was in reaction to the report of the fieldwork on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units as ordered by the Supreme Court and recent report of threat to peace and security arising from the fresh delineation.

They commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the steps taken so far towards complying with the Supreme Court order on fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units.

They frown at alleged attempts by Itsekiri ethnic nationality to frustrate the implementation of the Supreme Court order, maintaining that INEC has demonstrated its commitment and respect for the rule of law by taking necessary steps to comply with the Supreme Court order.

“We further note that, the report of the fieldwork by INEC confirms the obvious fact on ground, which is that, the Ijaws constitute the majority population in Warri North and Warri South-West Local Government Areas, while the Urhobos constitute the majority population in Warri South Local Government Area. We commend INEC for standing by the truth and justice”.

They called on INEC to complete the process of the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency and release its final decision without further delay.

“It is the position of the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri that, there should not be any electoral activity including registration of voters in the Warri Federal Constituency without completion of the fresh delineation as ordered by the Supreme Court. Our position is predicated on the ground that, without completion of the fresh delineation exercise, there are no existing electoral wards and polling units upon which any electoral activity can be predicated upon, including registration of voters.

On the call by Itsekiri for the use of voters register for the fresh delineation exercise, the Ijaws and Urhobos of Warri noted that the register of voters which existed before the Supreme Court ordered fresh delineation ought to be used as a basis to carry out the fresh delineation.

“We equivocally oppose the agitation for the use of non-existent register of voters as basis to carry out the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units. The agitation is against the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act, 2022, the INEC Guidelines dated the 21st day of March, 2024 and the essence of the fieldwork on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units.

“The primary consideration for the delineation of electoral wards and polling units is the population quota/number of inhabitants and other physical consideration of the areas concerned.

“Furthermore, it is our position that, based on the Supreme Court order on fresh delineation of wards and polling units, there is no longer any existing register of voters in the Warri Federal Constituency upon which any activity can be predicated upon.

“We therefore urge INEC to stick to the law and its Guidelines and not to succumb to the Itsekiri blackmail and misleading agitations to rely on register of voters. The field work carried out by INEC and other existing public records clearly revealed the majority population status of the Ijaws and Urhobos in Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South LGAs respectively.

“Furthermore, the register of voters was not one of the items considered during the field work on the fresh delineation. Also, the Itsekiris have not complained that any of their communities or settlements was omitted in the report of the fieldwork presented by INEC. It therefore means that, the Itsekiri voter register based agitation against the INEC field work report is baseless and lacks any legal foundation.

They further alleged attempts by the Itsekiris to blackmail INEC to carry out the delineation on their terms and trying to instigate crisis in Warri, claiming that attempt to disrupt oil and gas operations in some parts of Delta State, persistent media attacks on INEC and instigating some Yoruba Groups to issue reckless press statements were moves to blackmail the electoral umpire.

They urged the Federal Government to consider the attempt to disrupt oil and gas operations as a result of compliance with the order of the Supreme Court as an act of terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We state that, Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where the orders of the Supreme Court would be obeyed at the pleasure and on the conditions of an ethnic group. All persons and authorities including the Federal Government is bound by the orders of the Supreme Court on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units.

“Therefore, any attempt to frustrate the implementation of the judgment by attempting to attack national assets should be regarded as a threat to national security and the perpetrators brought to justice.

“We condemn the reckless statement issued by some purported Pan Yoruba Groups where they threatened the peace and security of the Niger Delta region as a result of the Supreme Court ordered delineation. We are aware that all these threats are the desperate actions of some Itsekiri leaders and should be ignored by the government.

“We also call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu not to allow its office to be blackmailed by the Itsekiris in their desperate attempt to truncate the Supreme Court ordered delineation. Any attempt to frustrate the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on the fresh delineation is a direct invitation to anarchy by whoever that is involved. The Presidency must distant itself from any such act and allow INEC to carry out its functions in line with section 160 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as an independent agency of the federal government.

“The Federal Government should be reminded that the relocation of the Headquarters of Warri South West Local Government Area from Ogbe-Ijoh to Ogidigben, which was instigated by the Itsekiris led to the fratricidal war in Warri from 1997 to 2003 which snowballed into the Niger Delta crisis. Therefore, we warn against any attempt to change the Ijaw and Urhobo majority status in Warri North, Warri South West and Warri South Local Government Areas, respectively as revealed by the INEC report of its field work on the fresh delineation of electoral wards and polling units”, they warned.